OMAGH-based newspaper publisher the North-West News Group (NWNG) has announced the acquisition of Belfast-based Kaizen Print.
The media company, which celebrates its 120th year in 2021, produces a range of newspapers in Tyrone, Fermanagh and Donegal, including the Ulster Herald and Gaelic Life.
It employs 78 staff across its sites in Omagh, Strabane, Enniskillen and Letterkenny.
It’s set to expand its digital printing and creative services in 2021 by acquiring the Belfast firm, which incorporates Kaizen Brand Evolution and Kaizen Weddings.
Kaizen was set up 11 years ago by brothers Connor and Martin McAuley. It currently employs 30 people at its Jennymount Court headquarters in north Belfast.
The brothers will remain with the business and will continue to manage the day to day activities of Kaizen alongside senior management from NWNG.
Managing director of the NWNG, Dominc McClements said: “The combination of Kaizen and NWNG will mean that we are in a strong position to offer a one-stop solution for the marketing, printing and digital needs of local businesses while continuing to focus on producing quality news and editorial content for local communities.”
Group chairman, Austin Currie, said the deal would strengthen NWNG’s ability to support local businesses as they aim to recover from a year of difficulties caused by Covid restrictions.
“Our newspapers have been embedded in local communities for over a century and now, with the addition of Kaizen, we will be in an even stronger position to support local businesses with all their advertising and marketing requirements in 2021 and beyond,” he said.
In a statement, Connor and Martin McAuley said: “Our goal has always been to create the strongest business possible and we are immensely excited around the opportunities that lie ahead and the strength this partnership will create for both businesses.
“Having worked closely with NWNG over the past year, it is evident that we share similar values towards how business should be done and while both individual businesses are great, together they are infinitely stronger.”
